Bwaze

I know it's nitpicking, but isn't this (as far as I understand) actually a spring replacement, not a gimbal replacement? If I understand this correctly, we have to remove the big spring from the base of Warthog, reassemble the base, and then mount the new spring (and / or damper) system on top - but the actual gimbal in the base remains "stock" and is still in use as a pivot point for the stick? I can see the removal of the spring could eliminate the force on the ball joint, so no more stiction, and new spring / damper system can be much better regarding center detent and axis bleeding. And I'm actually relieved this will keep the stock electronics, stock sensor and stick remains as it is in Windows. I'm interested. Have you considered cloth or rubber covers for spring system? Right now it looks a bit Rube Goldberg...:smilewink: Might be better in all black, I guess...

I bet they were thinking: "Yes, smaller boxes, less material, cheaper shipment... How small can we make them?"

A Mazin'!

Serial #: 01112 Location: Kamnik, Slovenia

So all the talk about 16384 values (14 bit) accuracy of throttles is actually pretty useless, 255 would be more than enough if it has 3 mm of play in about 10 cm of travel...

It's not the only price increase I've seen. Several European shops raised their prices as well, for instance Amazon.fr: http://www.amazon.fr/Thrustmaster-Warthog-Joystick-Throttle-anglais/dp/B00371R8P4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1288648286&sr=8-3 442 EUR + shipping now. Also, most of the cheaper European shops that sell for around 360 EUR and claim they have it in stock don't really allow you to make the purchase, right at the end of filling the forms your order is cancelled. It looks like we might be looking at the increase of price and limited availability for a while. Hey, it worked for the graphics card market. :(

Well price is around 320 EUR without tax right now. I have no idea how much profit each shop makes on single unit, I've heard very contradictory numbers, and that's from people who own such shops.

From Amazon.fr, 390 EUR with postage. When I ordered most of the shops showed they are getting them on 17. November, now it's in stock in lots of shops. But not cheaper, most of the shops charge 30 EUR or more for postage to Slovenia. I usually order things from MyLemon, they only charge 10 - 15 EUR of postage. http://geizhals.at/eu/a577830.html

Latitude (DMS): 46° 13' 12 N Longitude (DMS): 14° 42' 3 E Slovenia, neighbour. :) Come on, hog! :joystick:

Well the Amazon hasn't started sending the Warthog in Europe yet. Tomorrow, I hope. But even so I still think I'll have to wait at least for a week for the slow shipment.

Seems like quite a few retailers got their Warthogs today, or will shortly. Hope that my will be sent tomorrow. http://geizhals.at/eu/?a=577830&t=alle&plz=&va=b&vl=de&v=k#filterform

Nah, I'm from Slovenia. We never have demonstrations. Unless you're a student, this is waht they did with our parliament after a short and small "get together" in front of it: Also, we never have computer equipment on stock or is very overpriced, so everybody orders from abroad. Sellers here try to stop that, usually your warranty is not acknowledged even if it is "worldwide", if the item is not bought in Slovenia.

That's very nice of them! Amazon.fr is releasing it on October 28th, but they say I will receive it somewhere between November 13. and 17. I hope for a bit quicker delivery, it usually takes less than a week from UK. Just hope it won't be blocked by protesters. Damn French revolutions, always a nuisance...

Lol, user manual for Warthog describes how to engage the afterburner detent (by opening the cover above it). It also describes how to detach the base plate (for the cockpit mounting) - which exposes insides of the stick base. And on the next page: :D

Look here, search engine for Europe (but only covers Germany and Austria well): http://geizhals.at/eu/a577830.html And also look at links on Thrustmaster page: http://www.thrustmaster.com/distributors.aspx?ProductID=221&PlatformID=5 I ordered from Amazon.fr - relatively cheap, ships on 28. October (in 4 days, yay), and postage to Slovenia was relatively cheap (15 EUR).

Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog manual: ftp://ftp.thrustmaster.com/accessories/pc/hotas/manual/HOTAS_Warthog/HOTAS_Warthog_Manual_v1.pdf 18 pages in several languages, it's just an overview of buttons, axes, throttle detents and removal of base plate.

Well the A-10C stick is rotated to the left by 15 degrees, but that doesn't mean that you have to push 15 degrees to the left to have just the forward motion. It still looks as if the only solution is to mount the base without rotation, and somehow rotate just the grip with the hardware mod. Or is there a way to rotate just the plastic physical limiter, so the whole stick can be rotated and outputs mapped correctly?

Well, I guess side to side slight movement is not a problem with throttles - you usually don't exert a lot of force in this direction even when operating the locking switch (since your hand is on throttle). I just wonder if it does detract from the "rock solid" feel of a well made equipment. I think Warthog can never have "centre play" as bad as Cougar - even if the ball joint would wear out so there would be area in the centre where you wouldn't feel spring force the hall sensor bellow would still pick up stick movement, since it is directly connected to the stick. The only way for centre play to really happen is the inside joint of stick with the centre shaft - it looks awfully similar to Cougars, and there it had all sorts of problems (you could easily strip the threads in the soft zamac, and the connection wasn't solid any more). There was even a "hardware mod" - a bit larger screw that held better than original one. I'm curious why is there an octagonal shape to the stick movement? And since output is still as if it was a rectangular movement, how the hell are the sensor outputs mapped? Stretched out at the corners? It just seems unneeded complication.

Most of Europe shows 17. November. But I have a bad feeling that they won't make even that (if the US stores show 2. November at best).

But Target should also work with Cougar, T16000M and MFD's! I haven't tried it yet, too late today. Manual is really cryptic on some issues: And that's the only mention of this, program isn't even named. I hope this is some old manual and software, and they will upload more finished version.

I believe the correct grammar is TrackIR AND HOTAS. :) I would say get TrackIR first, can be 4, I have no experience with 5. Then a HOTAS so you will stop looking at the keyboard all the time. :)

What are then all those lower prices at 330 - 350 EUR? I guess since you cannot preorder in these shops and prices can change any time we will see more realistic prices only after Warthog becomes available. I just hope it will not stay at factory recommended price. Or even increase, as we have seen with graphic cards. ATI 5850 and 5870 are still more expensive than they were one year ago! I hope Thrustmaster will not adopt this sales tactics - create apparent shortage, so the items are not in stock at many shops at the same time. That way shops have no wish to compete and lower prices.

I usually do "bomb-assisted landings". :) Often damaging my bird to the point of it not being worthy of name "aircraft".

I'm using the Simped F-16/C for more than two years, and I see no problems mentioned above. I know they are not strong enough to actually stand on them, but for normal use I see no problem regarding stability. Saitek Pro Rudder I had before was much more flimsy and squeaky. I like the stiffer spring - it's easier to avoid unwanted rudder input with them, and they are not that much stiffer than Saitek ones. I checked the center levers, and they are completely smooth and without wear. They are quite thick, Simped site says "glass fibre reinforced plastics", and you can order replacements if they wear out. But I can't find even half of mm of play at the end of rudder arms (which are quite long, much shorter Cougar has about 2mm of play - even new). I guess it all depends how you use the rudder. I usually don't fly aerobatic stuff where you push rudder to the end as fast as you can, and slam it to the final position - I can imagine that would damage it in time. But I think such manoeuvres would damage Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals the first time you will try it. Speaking from experience, I had to disassemble them twice after gentler inputs. Are they worth 270 EUR? I don't know, I bought them used. And I hope Hoffman Electronic will come up with gameport to USB adapter so I can use them without Cougar. But I really don't see old Saiteks and CH as a competition.

It looks like Warthog won't be available in most of the shops on 20. - 28. October in Europe: http://geizhals.at/eu/a577830.html http://www.idealo.de/preisvergleich/OffersOfProduct/2002516_-hotas-warthog-thrustmaster.html Amazon.uk will have it on October 29. for 340 pounds, 415 EUR ($575) with shipment. Simware will have it on October 20. for 399 EUR + shipment. There is one shop that's advertising it will be available in a week, three others state it will be available on 17. November. Others don't have the date yet. I think I'll wait a bit, try the Target software on Cougar, and if I can make a workable profile I'll wait for prices to drop a bit, and also for the first user reviews.